Helen H. Graikoski

ROCKPORT, Maine - Helen Thurlow Graikoski, 92, of Rockport, Maine, passed away peacefully Sunday March 8, 2020 at PenBay Medical Center with her daughter Sharon Pratt by her side. She was predeceased by her loving husband of 48 years, Clarence “Sonny” Graikoski.
While in the hospital for the past month, Helen was always surrounded by her loving family and friends. She was blessed to have lived a full and healthy life before then. Born in Brooklyn, NY on January 3, 1928 to Elsie (Dolder) and Maurice Thurlow, she was the eldest of four daughters.
Her family went on to live in Westbury, NY, where she graduated at the top of her high school class. Following graduation, Helen worked at a photography studio where she put to use her artistic talents. During this time, Helen met and fell in love with Sonny. Together, with her sister Eunice and husband
Jay, they loved to go fishing and camping at Hither Hills State Park in Montauk, NY. Camping at Hither Hills became a long family tradition that continues today.
After purchasing their home in Westbury, Helen and Sonny went on to raise four beautiful daughters. Helen cherished motherhood, believing it was God’s greatest gift. It was the joy of her life. While raising her family, she also cared for many stray cats and dogs. Helen and Sonny were members of the Westbury Fire Department and during department functions she enjoyed delicious shrimp scampi dinners at her favorite restaurant, the Wheatley Hills Tavern. Helen, whose favorite pastimes were reading and growing house plants, was also an avid New York Islander fan. She and her daughter Nancy were season ticket holders and attended most home games. Rumor has it she could cheer with the best of them.
In 1998, three years after Sonny passed, she moved to Maine to be near three of her daughters. Helen loved calling Maine home as her ancestors hailed from Cutler and her family had a fleet of schooners built in Rockland, Maine. While living in Maine, Helen was very involved in raising her two grandsons, Todd and Tyler Weeks of Castine and her two granddaughters Katie and Emily Pratt of Rockport. Helen loved family above all else and that love was reciprocated by all. Her grandchildren adored and
admired her. She anchored the family and everyone looked to her for support and guidance. Somehow
she always seemed to know the right thing to do. Before passing, she shared that her life had been perfect and she had no regrets. Helen will be lovingly missed and remembered.
Helen is survived by her sister Marie Gunn, daughters Helen Anne Graikoski and her husband Allen Julin, Carol Weeks and her husband Dennis, Nancy Graikoski, Sharon Pratt and her husband Tim, her grandson Todd Weeks and his wife Jo Silver, grandson Tyler Weeks, as well as her granddaughters Katie Pratt and fiancé Jake Smith, granddaughter Emily Pratt and step-granddaughter Lonya Julin.
A burial service will be held at Holy Rood Cemetery in Westbury, NY. The burial will be held at 11:30 am on Friday, March 20th, 2020.
In lieu of flowers, donations to any animal rescue league would be appreciated. A June Celebration of Life will be held in Rockport Maine and will be announced on a later date. All are welcome!
 

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Helen H. Graikoski, please visit our floral store.